Mobile Communication Device Providing N-Way Communications Through A Plurality Of Communication Services

ABSTRACT

A system and method, in a mobile communication device, providing N-way communication through a plurality of communication services. Various aspects of the present invention provide a mobile communication device comprising a user interface and at least one communication interface module adapted to perform a first communication with a first communication device through a first communication service and perform a second communication with a second communication device through a second communication service. At least one module may be adapted to receive outgoing information from the user interface and to receive first information from the first communication device through the first communication service. The at least one module may also combine at least the received outgoing information and the received first information and transmit such combined information to the second communication device through the second communication service.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The present application is related to and claims priority from U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/775,665, with attorney docketnumber 17054US01, filed Feb. 22, 2006, and titled “MOBILE COMMUNICATIONDEVICE PROVIDING N-WAY COMMUNICATION THROUGH A PLURALITY OFCOMMUNICATION SERVICES,” the contents of which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[Not Applicable]

SEQUENCE LISTING

[Not Applicable]

MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE

[Not Applicable]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A mobile communication device may be capable of communicating over aplurality of communication networks. A user of a mobile communicationdevice may, for example, communicate with a first party that is capableof communicating over a first communication network. The user may also,for example, communicate with a second party that is capable ofcommunicating over a second communication network. The first and secondcommunication networks might not be compatible with one another. Forexample and without limitation, the first and second communicationnetworks might utilize different respective types of encoding and/orcommunicate with communication devices utilizing different respectivecommunication protocols.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalapproaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, throughcomparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth inthe remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various aspects of the present invention comprise a mobile communicationdevice providing N-way communication through a plurality ofcommunication services, substantially as shown in and/or described inconnection with at least one of the figures, as set forth morecompletely in the claims. These and other advantages, aspects and novelfeatures of the present invention, as well as details of illustrativeaspects thereof, will be more fully understood from the followingdescription and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a portion of an exemplary mobilecommunication device, in accordance with various aspects of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a portion of another exemplary mobilecommunication device, in accordance with various aspects of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a portion of an additional exemplarymobile communication device, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a portion of yet another exemplarymobile communication device, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a portion of still another exemplarymobile communication device, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary communication environment,in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary method for operating amobile communication device, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another exemplary method for operatinga mobile communication device, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an additional exemplary method foroperating a mobile communication device, in accordance with variousaspects of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating yet another exemplary method foroperating a mobile communication device, in accordance with variousaspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a portion of an exemplary mobilecommunication device 100, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent invention. The mobile communication device 100 may comprisecharacteristics of any of a variety of types of mobile communicationdevices. For example and without limitation, the mobile communicationdevice 100 may comprise characteristics of a cellular telephone,personal digital assistant, handheld computer, personal email device,portable music player with communication capability, portable navigationsystem, etc. Accordingly, the scope of various aspects of the presentinvention should not be limited by characteristics of any particulartype of mobile communication device.

The exemplary mobile communication device 100 may comprise at least onecommunication interface module adapted to communicate over a pluralityof communication networks with a plurality of communication services.The mobile communication device 100 may, for example, comprise a firstcommunication interface module 110 and a second communication interfacemodule 120. Note that the exemplary communication device 100 isillustrated with two discrete communication modules 110, 120 forillustrative clarity only and should not be limiting. For example, themobile communication device 100 may comprise more than two communicationinterface modules. Also for example, various communication modules ofthe mobile communication device 100 may share various hardware and/orsoftware components.

The following discussion will, at times, refer to various communicationservices. For the following discussion, a communication service maygenerally coincide with a particular type of communication. Exemplarycommunication services include, without limitation, a cellular telephoneservice, a public switched telephone network (“PSTN”) service, anInternet service, satellite communication service, Voice over InternetProtocol (“VoIP”) service, etc. Various services may, for example,communicate with a mobile communication device utilizing particularrespective communication networks, communication protocols,communication media, types of encoding, etc. Generally, a particularcommunication service may coincide with a particular communicationnetwork, but such one-to-one correspondence is not always necessary.

The first communication interface module 110 may, for example, beadapted to communicate over a first communication network. Such a firstcommunication network may, for example, be or comprise variouscharacteristics of a telephony communication network. Such a telephonycommunication network may, for example, be or comprise variouscharacteristics of a cellular telephone network or the Public SwitchedTelephone Network (“PSTN”). In an exemplary configuration where thefirst communication interface module 110 is adapted to communicate overa cellular telephone network, the first communication interface module110 may, for example, be adapted to communicate in accordance with anyof a large variety of cellular communication standards and/or proprietycommunication protocols (e.g., 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, CDMA, WCDMA, PDC, TDMA,GSM/GPRS/EDGE, etc.).

Such a first communication network may also, for example, be or comprisevarious characteristics of a computer communication network. In such anexemplary configuration, a computer communication network may, forexample, be or comprise various characteristics of any of a variety ofcomputer communication networks (e.g., the Internet, a Wide Area Network“WAN,” a Local Area Network “LAN,” a Personal Area Network “PAN,” aMetropolitan Area Network “MAN,” a terrestrial computer communicationnetwork, a satellite computer communication network, etc.). Also, insuch an exemplary configuration, the first communication interfacemodule 110 may, for example, be adapted to communicate with the computercommunication network utilizing any of a large variety of standardand/or proprietary lower level protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.11,IEEE 802.15, IEEE 802.16, IEEE 802.20, etc.) and/or higher levelprotocols (e.g., TCP/IP).

The first communication interface module 110 may be adapted tocommunicate over any of a variety of communication media. For example,the first communication module 110 may be adapted to communicatewirelessly utilizing the wireless port 112. Alternatively, for example,though not illustrated in FIG. 1, the first communication interfacemodule 110 may be adapted to communicate via wired interface,non-tethered optical interface or tethered optical interface.

The second communication interface module 120 may share any or allcharacteristics with the first communication interface module 110discussed previously. For example and without limitation, the secondcommunication interface module 120 may be adapted to establish, maintainand communicate over communication links established with any of avariety of types of communication networks or communication services.Also for example, the second communication interface module 120 may beadapted to communicate over any of a variety of communication media(e.g., via a wireless communication port 122, non-tethered opticalcommunication port 124, tethered optical communication port 126 or wiredcommunication port 128).

In a non-limiting exemplary scenario, the first communication interfacemodule 110 may be adapted to perform a first communication with a firstcommunication device through a first communication service. For example,the first communication interface module 110 may be adapted to perform acellular telephone call with a first communication device (e.g., acellular telephone) through a cellular telephone service.

Continuing the non-limiting exemplary scenario, the second communicationinterface module 120 may be adapted to perform a second communicationwith a second communication device through a second communicationservice. For example, the second communication interface module 120 maybe adapted to perform a voice communication (e.g., VoIP, packettelephony, IP telephony, etc.) with a second communication device (e.g.,a VoIP telephone or networked computer) through an Internet orspecialized Internet voice service.

In another non-limiting exemplary scenario, the first communicationinterface module 110 may be adapted to perform a first cellulartelephone call with a first cellular telephone through a first cellulartelephone service (e.g., a CDMA-based service). The second communicationinterface module 120 may be adapted to perform a second cellulartelephone call with a second cellular telephone through a secondcellular telephone service (e.g., a GSM-based service).

In a further non-limiting exemplary scenario, the first communicationinterface module 110 may be adapted to perform a first voice (ormultimedia) conversation with a first voice (or multimedia) cellularphone through a first cellular telephone service. The secondcommunication interface module 120 may be adapted to perform a secondvoice (or multimedia) conversation with a second communication devicethrough a computer network (e.g., a LAN, PAN, Internet, etc.).

The exemplary mobile communication device 100 may also comprise acommunication manager module 130 generally adapted to managecommunications occurring with the mobile communication device 100. Thecommunication manager module 130 may be or comprise characteristics ofany of a large variety of modules or devices associated with performinggeneral communication tasks in a mobile communication device. Forexample and without limitation, the communication manager module 130 maycomprise or oversee operation of various signal processors, codecs, userinterfaces, applications, etc., which may be associated with any of theplurality of communication networks or services with which the mobilecommunication device 100 may be capable of communicating.

For example, the communication manager module 130 may be adapted toperform or manage various secure access and/or secure communicationfunctionalities. Also for example, the communication manager module 130may be adapted to perform or manage various power managementfunctionalities. Additionally for example, the communication managermodule 130 may be adapted to control user access to particularfunctionalities that the mobile communication device 100 is capable ofperforming.

Also for example, the communication manager module 130 may be adapted toperform or manage various flows of information within the mobilecommunication device 130. For example, the communication manager module130 may be adapted to control the flow of information between variousprotocol stack layers. Also for example, the communication managermodule 130 may be adapted to perform or manage the functionality ofvarious protocol stack layers. The communication manager module 130 maythus be adapted to manage the flow of various types of informationbetween various devices, modules or sub-modules. Such types ofinformation may, for example, include control information, numericalinformation, textual information, audio information, video information,graphical information, pictorial information, etc.

The exemplary mobile communication device 100 may also comprise a userinterface module 140. The user interface module 140 may generallyprovide an interface between the mobile communication device 100 and auser of the mobile communication device 100. The user interface module140 may comprise characteristics of any of a variety of user interfaces.The user interface module 140 may, for example and without limitation,be adapted to provide any of a variety of audio, video and/or tactileuser interfaces. For example and without limitation, the user interfacemodule 140 may be adapted to provide video display, audio speaker, videocamera, microphone, touch screen, touchpad, keypad and vibration U/Ifunctionality.

For example, the mobile communication device 100 (e.g., thecommunication manager module 130) may utilize the user interface module140 to provide a communication interface (e.g., video, audio and/ortextual) between a user of the mobile communication device 100 and otherdevices communicatively coupled to the mobile communication device 100.For example, the mobile communication device 100 may utilize the userinterface module 140 to notify a user of an incoming message to themobile communication device 100 from another communication device (e.g.,another mobile communication device). Also for example, the mobilecommunication device 100 may utilize the user interface module 140 toprovide a user interface for information communicated over variouscommunication networks, where the user interface shares variouscharacteristics with a typical mobile telephone user interface. As anon-limiting example, the mobile communication device 100 may utilizethe user interface module 140, for communications between the mobilecommunication device 100 and another mobile communication device over acomputer communication network, to provide a user interface that isgenerally the same as the user interface for a mobile telephonecommunication over a mobile telephone communication network. The scopeof various aspects of the present invention should not be limited bycharacteristics of a particular type of user interface or hardwareand/or software that provide a particular type of user interface.

The user interface module 140 may be adapted to (e.g., autonomously orin conjunction with other modules, for example, the communicationmanager module 130) provide a communication interface between a user anda plurality of other communication devices simultaneously. For example,the user interface module 140 may provide received conversationinformation (e.g., cellular voice information, VoIP information, etc.)from a plurality of sources simultaneously. Also for example, the userinterface module 140 may obtain (or receive) conversation informationfrom a user, which is to be provided to a plurality of destinationssimultaneously.

The user interface module 140 may be adapted to provide various userinterface features to a user to enhance the capability of a user toutilize the mobile communication device 100 to communicate with aplurality of others simultaneously. For example, the user interfacemodule 140 may be adapted to provide active connection (or communicationlink) information corresponding to a plurality of other communicationdevices. Also for example, the user interface module 140 may be adaptedto provide contact information corresponding to a plurality of othercommunication devices through one or more respective communicationservices.

The mobile communication device 100 may comprise a processor 150 and amemory 155. The processor 150 and memory 155 may, for example, beutilized to implement any of the modules discussed herein or portionsthereof. The processor 150 and memory 155 may also be utilized by any ofthe modules discussed herein (e.g., to perform processing and/or tostore information in a volatile or non-volatile manner).

The mobile communication device 100 may also comprise a bridge module180. The bridge module 180 may, for example, be adapted to receiveoutgoing information from the user interface module 140. The bridgemodule 180 may also be adapted to receive first information from thefirst communication interface module 110 (e.g., information originatingfrom a first communication device to which the mobile communicationdevice 100 is communicatively coupled). The bridge module 180 mayfurther be adapted to combine at least the received outgoing informationand the received first information. Note that the bridge module 180 maybe adapted to combine information from additional sources (e.g.,information originating from another communication device to which themobile communication device 100 is communicatively coupled). The bridgemodule 180 may then, for example, utilize or direct one or morecommunication interface modules (e.g., the second communicationinterface module 120) to transmit the combined information.

The information combined by the bridge module 180 may comprise any of avariety of characteristics. For example, the information may be in theform of analog and/or digital signals. Also for example, the informationmay comprise audio and/or video information. Further for example, theinformation may generally correspond to voice or multimedia informationassociated with a real-time conversation (e.g., a 3-way, 4-way or N-wayconversation).

Also for example, the information may be non-encoded (e.g., never beenencoded, not yet encoded, or previously encoded but now decoded, etc.).In a non-limiting exemplary scenario, the bridge module 180 may beadapted to receive and combine non-encoded outgoing information from theuser interface module 140 and non-encoded first information from thefirst communication module 110 (e.g., directly from or through adecoder). Such combined information may then be encoded, if desired, andtransmitted (e.g., utilizing the second communication interface module120). Refer to the discussion of FIG. 2 for additional examples, some ofwhich relate to receiving and/or combining non-encoded information.

Also for example, the information may be in the form of encoded signals.In a non-limiting exemplary scenario, the bridge module 180 may beadapted to receive encoded outgoing information from the user interfacemodule 140 (e.g., directly from or through an encoder). Also forexample, the bridge module 180 may be adapted to receive encoded firstinformation from the first communication module (e.g., directly from orthrough an encoder or transcoder). The bridge module 180 may then, forexample, be adapted to combine such received encoded information. Suchcombined encoded information may then, for example, be transmitted(e.g., utilizing the second communication interface module 120) ortranscoded to another format and then transmitted. Refer to thediscussion of FIG. 3 for additional examples, some of which relate toreceiving and/or combining encoded information.

Further for example, the information may be in the form of informationpackets. In a non-limiting exemplary scenario, the bridge module 180 maybe adapted to receive packets of information from the user interfacemodule 140. Also for example, the bridge module 180 may be adapted toreceive packets of information from the first communication module 110.Such packets may or may not contain information that has been encoded inaccordance with different respective encoding schemes. The bridge module180 may then, for example, be adapted to combine such packetizedinformation (e.g., utilizing a packet multiplexer or by repacketizingand multiplexing such packetized information). Refer to the discussionof FIG. 4 for additional examples, some of which relate to receivingand/or combining packetized information.

In general, the bridge module 180 may be adapted to receive outgoinginformation from, for example, a user interface module 140 and at leastone other communication device and combine such information forsubsequent transmission. Accordingly, the scope of various aspects ofthe present invention should not be limited by characteristics of anyparticular type of information or any particular manner of combiningsuch information.

The bridge module 180 may also, for example, be adapted to combinesignals received from other communication devices for ultimatepresentation to a user of the mobile communication device 100. Forexample, the bridge module 180 may be adapted to combine and/or decodesignals received from first and/or second communication devices throughthe first and/or second communication modules 110 and 120. The bridgemodule 180 may then present such information to the user interfacemodule 140 for presentation to the user.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a portion of another exemplary mobilecommunication device 200, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent invention. The exemplary mobile communication device 200 may,for example and without limitation, share any or all limitations withthe exemplary mobile communication device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 anddiscussed previously. For example, the first communication interfacemodule 210, second communication interface module 220, communicationmanager module 230, user interface module 240 and bridge module 280 mayshare any or all characteristics with similarly named modules of themobile communication device 100 of FIG. 1.

The user interface module 240 is illustrated comprising various userinterface devices (or interfaces therefor). For example, the userinterface module 240 may comprise a microphone, output speaker, videodisplay, keyboard or keypad, touch screen, vibratory output and camerainput.

As discussed previously, a mobile communication device may comprise anynumber of communication interface modules. The third communicationinterface module 270 may share any or all characteristics with the firstand second communication interface modules 210 and 220. For example andwithout limitation, the third communication interface module 270 may beadapted to establish, maintain and communicate over communication linksestablished with any of a variety of types of communication networks orcommunication services. Also for example, the third communicationinterface module 270 may be adapted to communicate over any of a varietyof communication media (e.g., via a wireless communication port 272,non-tethered optical communication port 274, tethered opticalcommunication port 276 or wired communication port 278).

As discussed previously with regard to the mobile communication deviceof FIG. 1, the exemplary bridge module 280 may be adapted to receiveand/or combine non-encoded information. For example, the bridge module280 may be adapted to receive non-encoded information from the firstcommunication interface module 210 (e.g., directly or through the firstdecoder 282). Similarly, the bridge module 280 may be adapted to receivenon-encoded information from the third communication interface module270 (e.g., directly or through the third decoder 286). The bridge module280 may further be adapted to receive non-encoded information from theuser interface module 240 (e.g., directly or through one or moreintervening modules).

The exemplary bridge module 280 may comprise a combiner 288 (e.g., ananalog or digital combiner) that is adapted to combine signals and/ordata corresponding to the received non-encoded information. The combiner288 may comprise characteristics of any of a variety of types ofcombiner hardware and/or software. For example and without limitation,the combiner 288 may comprise characteristics of signal or data additionhardware and/or software. The combiner 288 may also, for example,comprise characteristics of various filtering and/or amplification (orscaling) modules.

The combiner 288 may, for example, output a signal representative of thecombined signals to the second communication interface module 220 fortransmission to another communication device. As a non-limiting example,the exemplary bridge module 280 may also comprise a second encoder 284.The second encoder 284 may encode the combined signal received from thecombiner 288 in accordance with a particular type of encoding scheme.For example, the second encoder 284 may encode the combined signal inaccordance with an encoding scheme that the intended recipient of thecorresponding transmitted signal is capable of decoding.

In a non-limiting exemplary scenario, the mobile communication device200 may be utilized to communicate audio information (e.g., toparticipate in a voice conversation communication). The bridge module280 may be adapted to receive outgoing voice information from the userinterface module 240 (e.g., directly or through the communicationmanager module 230 and/or other intervening modules). The bridge module280 may also be adapted to receive first voice information from thefirst communication interface module 210. Such first voice informationmay, for example, have originated at a first communication device thatis communicatively coupled to the mobile communication device 200 via afirst communication service (e.g., a cellular telephony service). Theoutgoing voice information may, for example, be carried in a non-encodedsignal, and the first voice information may also be carried in anon-encoded signal.

Continuing the non-limiting exemplary scenario, the bridge module 280(e.g., the combiner 288) may then be adapted to combine at least thereceived outgoing voice information and received first voiceinformation. For example, the combiner 288 may be adapted to combine(e.g., add) respective analog or digital signals corresponding to theoutgoing voice information and first voice information. The combiner 288may then output a signal representative of the combined outgoing voiceinformation and first voice information. The second encoder 284 mayreceive the combined voice signal from the combiner 288, encode thecombined voice signal (e.g., in accordance with an audio encodingstandard) and output the encoded combined voice signal to the secondcommunication interface module 220. The second communication interfacemodule 220 may then transmit the encoded combined voice signal to asecond communication device through a second communication service(e.g., a computer network or VoIP service).

In another exemplary scenario, the mobile communication device 200 mayutilize the third communication interface module 270 to communicate witha third communication device through a third communication service. Insuch a scenario, the combiner 288 may also receive non-encoded thirdvoice (or audio) information from the third communication interfacemodule 270 (e.g., directly or through the third decoder 286). Thecombiner 288 may then, for example, combine the received outgoing voiceinformation, received first voice information and received third voiceinformation. The second encoder 284 may then encode a signalcorresponding to the combined information for subsequent transmission tothe second communication device.

Note that though the exemplary scenario above was presented in terms ofvoice communication, the scope of various aspects of the presentinvention should not be limited by characteristics of voicecommunication. Various other exemplary scenarios to be presented willsimilarly present voice communication for illustrative and non-limitingpurposes.

As discussed previously with regard to the exemplary mobilecommunication device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, the bridge module 280may also, for example, be adapted to combine signals received from othercommunication devices for ultimate presentation to a user of the mobilecommunication device 200. For example, the bridge module 280 may beadapted to combine and/or decode signals (e.g., utilizing the firstdecoder 282, a second decoder not shown and/or the third decoder 286)received from first, second and/or third communication devices throughthe first, second and/or third communication modules 210, 220 and 270.The bridge module 280 may then present such information to the userinterface module 240 (e.g., directly or through one or more interveningmodules) for presentation to the user.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a portion of an additional exemplarymobile communication device 300, in accordance with various aspects ofthe present invention. The exemplary mobile communication device 300may, for example and without limitation, share any or all limitationswith the exemplary mobile communication devices 100 and 200 illustratedin FIGS. 1-2 and discussed previously. For example, the firstcommunication interface module 310, second communication interfacemodule 320, third communication interface module 370, communicationmanager module 330, user interface module 340 and bridge module 380 mayshare any or all characteristics with similarly named modules of themobile communication devices 100 and 200 of FIGS. 1-2.

As discussed previously with regard to the mobile communication deviceof FIG. 1, the exemplary bridge module 380 may be adapted to receiveand/or combine encoded information. For example, the bridge module 380may be adapted to receive encoded information from the firstcommunication interface module 310 (e.g., directly or through the firsttranscoder 381). Similarly, the bridge module 380 may be adapted toreceive encoded information from the third communication interfacemodule 370 (e.g., directly or through the third transcoder 383). Thebridge module 380 may further be adapted to receive encoded informationfrom the user interface module 340 (e.g., directly or through the secondencoder 384 and/or one or more other intervening modules).

The exemplary bridge module 380 may comprise a combiner 388 (e.g., ananalog or digital combiner) that is adapted to combine signals or datacorresponding to the received encoded information. The combiner 388 maycomprise characteristics of any of a variety of types of combinerhardware and/or software. For example and without limitation, thecombiner 388 may comprise characteristics of signal or data additionhardware and/or software. The combiner 388 may also, for example,comprise characteristics of various filtering and/or amplification (orscaling) modules.

The exemplary bridge module 380 is illustrated with a first transcoder381. The first transcoder 381 may, for example, be adapted to convertencoded information between various types of coding. For example andwithout limitation, the first transcoder 381 may be adapted to receivefirst information from the first communication interface module 310,where the first information is encoded according to a first type ofencoding (e.g., a first particular audio and/or video encodingstandard). The first transcoder 381 may then be adapted to convert theencoding of the first information to a second type of encoding (e.g., asecond particular audio and/or video encoding standard). The firsttranscoder 381 may, for example, be adapted to directly convert betweentypes of encoding or may be adapted to indirectly convert between typesof encoding (e.g., first decoding from the first type of encoding andthen encoding in accordance with a second type of encoding).

In a non-limiting exemplary configuration, the first transcoder 381 maybe adapted to transcode between various selectable types of encoding(e.g., between a first plurality of encoding types and a secondplurality of encoding types). For example, in a non-limiting exemplaryscenario where the mobile communication device 300 receives firstinformation encoded according to a first type of encoding, the mobilecommunication device 300 (e.g., the communication manager module 330 orthe transcoder 381) may be adapted to determine that the firstinformation is encoded according to the first type of encoding.Continuing the exemplary scenario, the mobile communication device 300may also be communicating information with the second communicationdevice utilizing a second type of encoding. To establish encodinguniformity, the mobile communication device 300 may direct (or control)the transcoder 381 to transcode the first information from the firsttype of encoding to the second type of encoding for subsequent combiningand transmission to the second communication device.

The mobile communication device 300 may also comprise a secondtranscoder 383. The second transcoder 383 may, for example, share any orall characteristics with the first transcoder 381 discussed previously.For example, the second transcoder 383 may be adapted to transcodebetween a third type of encoding and the second type of encoding. Alsofor example, the second transcoder 383 may be adapted to transcodebetween selectable types of encoding.

The combiner 388 may be adapted to receive encoded signalsrepresentative of the outgoing information, first received informationand third received information. Such information, as discussedpreviously, might have been converted to a consistent type of encoding(e.g., by the first transcoder 381, second transcoder 383 and secondencoder 384). Note that such consistent encoding might not be necessary,but may be preferred in various scenarios.

The combiner 388 may, for example, output a signal representative of thecombined signals to the second communication interface module 320 fortransmission to another communication device. For example, the combiner388 may output the combined signal to the second communication interfacemodule 320 for subsequent transmission to a second communication device(e.g., through a second communication service).

In a non-limiting exemplary scenario, the mobile communication device300 may be utilized to communicate audio information (e.g., toparticipate in a voice conversation communication). The bridge module380 may be adapted to receive outgoing voice information from the userinterface module 340 (e.g., directly through the communication managermodule 330 and/or other intervening modules). The bridge module 340 may,for example, utilize the second encoder 384 to encode the receivedoutgoing voice information in accordance with a second type of audioencoding.

The bridge module 380 may also be adapted to receive first voiceinformation from the first communication interface module 310. Suchfirst voice information may, for example, be received by the firstcommunication interface module 310 already encoded in accordance withthe second type of audio encoding or, alternatively, the firsttranscoder 381 may transcode the received first voice information from afirst type of encoding to the second type of encoding.

Such first audio information may, for example, have originated at afirst communication device that is communicatively coupled to the mobilecommunication device 300 via a first communication service (e.g., acellular telephony service).

Continuing the non-limiting exemplary scenario, the bridge module 380(e.g., the combiner 388) may then be adapted to combine at least thereceived outgoing voice information and received first voice information(e.g., both of which may have already been encoded according to thesecond type of encoding). For example, the combiner 388 may be adaptedto combine (e.g., add) respective analog or digital signalscorresponding to the outgoing voice information and first voiceinformation. The combiner 388 may then output a signal representative ofthe combined outgoing voice information and first voice information tothe second communication interface module 320. The second communicationinterface module 320 may then transmit the encoded combined voice signalto a second communication device through a second communication service(e.g., a computer network or VoIP service).

In another exemplary scenario, the mobile communication device 300 mayutilize the third communication interface module 370 to communicate witha third communication device through a third communication service. Insuch a scenario, the combiner 388 may also receive encoded third voice(or audio) information from the third communication interface module 370(e.g., directly or through the second transcoder 383). The combiner 388may then, for example, combine the received outgoing voice information,received first voice information and received third voice information.The combiner 388 may then communicate the combined encoded informationto the second communication interface module 320 for subsequenttransmission to the second communication device. Note that the scope ofvarious aspects of the present invention may be extended to coverscenarios including the communication of information with any pluralityof other communication devices.

As discussed previously with regard to the exemplary mobilecommunication device 300 illustrated in FIG. 3, the bridge module 380may also, for example, be adapted to combine signals received from othercommunication devices for ultimate presentation to a user of the mobilecommunication device 300. For example, the bridge module 380 may beadapted to combine and/or decode signals (e.g., utilizing the firsttranscoder 381, second transcoder 383 or other transcoder(s) anddecoder(s)) received from first, second and/or third communicationdevices through the first, second and/or third communication modules310, 320 and 370. The bridge module 380 may then present suchinformation to the user interface module 340 for presentation to theuser.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a portion of yet another exemplarymobile communication device 400, in accordance with various aspects ofthe present invention. The exemplary mobile communication device 400may, for example and without limitation, share any or all limitationswith the exemplary mobile communication devices 100, 200 and 300illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and discussed previously. For example, thefirst communication interface module 410, second communication interfacemodule 420, third communication interface module 470, communicationmanager module 430, user interface module 440 and bridge module 480 mayshare any or all characteristics with similarly named modules of themobile communication devices 100, 200 and 300 of FIGS. 1-3.

As discussed previously with regard to the mobile communication device100 of FIG. 1, the exemplary bridge module 480 may be adapted to receiveand/or combine packetized information. For example, the bridge module480 may be adapted to receive packetized information from the firstcommunication interface module 410 (e.g., directly or through anintervening module). Similarly, the bridge module 480 may be adapted toreceive packetized information from the third communication interfacemodule 470 (e.g., directly or through an intervening module). The bridgemodule 480 may further be adapted to receive packetized information fromthe user interface module 440 (e.g., directly or through one or moreintervening modules, for example, the second encoder 484).

The exemplary bridge module 480 may comprise a combiner 488 that isadapted to combine signals corresponding to the received packetizedinformation. The combiner 488 may comprise characteristics of any of avariety of types of combiner hardware and/or software. For example andwithout limitation, the combiner 488 may comprise characteristics of adata packet multiplexer adapted to combine plural data packet streamsinto a single packet stream. The combiner 488 may also, for example,comprise characteristics of various filtering, buffering and/oramplification modules.

The combiner 488 may, for example, output a signal representative of thecombined signals to the second communication interface module 420 fortransmission to another communication device. As a non-limiting example,the exemplary bridge module 480 may be adapted to combine packet streamsinto a single packet stream, even though various packets may compriseinformation that has been encoded utilizing a plurality of differenttypes of encoding techniques. In such an example, a receiver of such acombined packet stream might then perform different types of decoding ondifferent types of packets and then combine the decoded information forpresentation to a user. Alternatively, the bridge 480 may, as discussedpreviously, comprise one or more transcoders to transcode betweenencoding formats. The bridge 480 may further be adapted to repacketizecombined information into a consistent packet format.

In a non-limiting exemplary scenario, the mobile communication device400 may be utilized to communicate audio information (e.g., toparticipate in a voice conversation communication). The bridge module480 may be adapted to receive outgoing voice information from the userinterface module 440 (e.g., directly through the communication managermodule 430, second encoder 484 and/or other intervening modules). Thebridge module 480 may also be adapted to receive first packetized voiceinformation from the first communication interface module 410. Suchfirst packetized voice information may, for example, have originated ata first communication device that is communicatively coupled to themobile communication device 400 via a first communication service (e.g.,a cellular telephony service).

Continuing the non-limiting exemplary scenario, the bridge module 480(e.g., the combiner 488) may then be adapted to combine at least thereceived packetized outgoing voice information and received firstpacketized voice information. For example, the combiner 488 may beadapted to combine (e.g., multiplex) respective packet streamscorresponding to the outgoing packetized voice information and firstpacketized voice information. The combiner 388 may then output a signalrepresentative of the combined packetized outgoing voice information andfirst packetized voice information. The second communication interfacemodule 420 may then transmit the combined packetized voice signal to asecond communication device through a second communication service(e.g., a computer network or cellular telephony network).

In another exemplary scenario, the mobile communication device 400 mayutilize the third communication interface module 470 to communicate witha third communication device through a third communication service. Insuch a scenario, the combiner 488 may also receive packetized thirdvoice (or audio) information from the third communication interfacemodule 470 (e.g., directly or through an intervening module). Thecombiner 488 may then, for example, combine the received outgoing voiceinformation, received first voice information and received third voiceinformation. The combiner 488 may then output a combined signalcorresponding to the combined information to the second communicationinterface module 420 for subsequent transmission to the secondcommunication device.

Note that though the exemplary scenario above was presented in terms ofvoice communication, the scope of various aspects of the presentinvention should not be limited by characteristics of voicecommunication. Various other exemplary scenarios to be presented willsimilarly present voice communication for illustrative and non-limitingpurposes.

As discussed previously with regard to the exemplary mobilecommunication device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, the bridge module 480may also, for example, be adapted to combine signals received from othercommunication devices for ultimate presentation to a user of the mobilecommunication device 400. For example, the bridge module 480 may beadapted to combine and/or decode signals (e.g., utilizing the firstdecoder 482, a second decoder not shown and/or the third decoder 486)received from first, second and/or third communication devices throughthe first, second and/or third communication modules 410, 420 and 470.The bridge module 480 may then present such information to the userinterface module 440 for presentation to the user.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a portion of still another exemplarymobile communication device 500, in accordance with various aspects ofthe present invention. The exemplary mobile communication device 500may, for example, share any or all characteristics with the exemplarymobile communication devices 100-400 illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 anddiscussed previously.

The exemplary mobile communication device 500 may comprise a wirelessfront end 505 and/or a wired/tethered front end 506. The wireless frontend 505 and the wired/tethered front end 506 may be communicativelycoupled to any of a variety of communication interface modules 510. Theexemplary mobile communication device 500 is illustrated with anon-limiting exemplary set of communication interface modules 510,including: a Bluetooth interface module, IEEE 802.11 interface module,IEEE 802.15 interface module, IEEE 802.16 interface module, IEEE 802.20interface module, GSM/GPRS/EDGE interface module, CDMA/WCDMA interfacemodule, TDMA/PDC interface module, H.323 interface module, SIP interfacemodule, MGCP/MEGACO interface module, modem module, IJSB module, firewire module and memory interface module (e.g., for interfacing withoff-board or removable memory). The wireless front end 505,wired/tethered front end 506 and communication interface modules 510may, for example and without limitation, share any or allcharacteristics with the communication interface module(s) 110, 120,210, 220, 270, 310, 320, 370, 410, 420 and 470 of the exemplary mobilecommunication devices 100-400 illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 and discussedpreviously.

The exemplary mobile communication device 500 may also comprise any of avariety of user interface module(s) 540. The user interface module(s)540 may, for example and without limitation, share any or allcharacteristics with the user interface module(s) 140, 240, 340 and 440of the exemplary mobile communication devices 100-400 illustrated inFIGS. 1-4 and discussed previously. The exemplary mobile communicationdevice 500 is illustrated with a non-limiting exemplary set of userinterface module(s) 540 (or sub-modules). The user interface module(s)540 may, for example, comprise any of a variety of video/graphicsprocessing modules, audio processing modules, and tactile signalprocessing modules. The mobile communication device 500 may alsocomprise compatible user interface devices corresponding to the varioususer interface module(s) 540 (e.g., a video display, camera, speaker,microphone, touch screen, keypad, vibrator, etc.).

The exemplary mobile communication device 500 is illustrated with anon-limiting exemplary set of signal processing modules 530, which maybe selectively utilized in accordance with current signal processingneeds. The signal processing modules 530 may, for example, comprisevarious video, audio, textual and tactile signal-processing modules. Thesignal processing modules 530 may generally, for example, processinformation conveyed between the front ends 505 and 506 andcommunication interface module(s) 510 of the mobile communication device500 and the user interface module(s) 540 of the mobile communicationdevice 500.

The signal processing modules 530 may, for example and withoutlimitation, comprise various video/graphics processing modules, variousaudio processing modules (e.g., VoIP processing modules) and varioustactile processing modules. The signal processing modules 530 may, forexample, share any or all characteristics with the communication managermodules 130, 230, 330 and 430 illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 and discussedpreviously. The signal processing module 530 may also, for example,share any or all characteristics with the bridge modules 180, 280, 380and 480 discussed previously and various exemplary components thereof(e.g., decoders, encoders and transcoders).

The exemplary mobile communication device 500 may also comprise ageneral processor 552 (and/or a digital signal processor) and on-boardmemory 555. The general processor 552, which may be a basebandprocessor, for example, and memory 555 may perform any of a wide varietyof operational tasks for the mobile communication device 500. Forexample and without limitation, the general processor 552 and memory 555may share various characteristics with the communication interfacemodules, bridge modules, communication manager modules and userinterface modules of the exemplary mobile communication devices 100-400illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 and discussed previously.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary communication environment600, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. Theexemplary communication environment 600 shows a variety of exemplarymobile communication devices 610, 620, 630, 640 and 650 in anon-limiting exemplary communication scenario. The exemplary mobilecommunication devices 610, 620, 630, 640 and 650 may, for example, shareany or all characteristics with the exemplary mobile communicationdevices 100-500 illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 and discussed previously. Thefollowing exemplary scenario will be presented in terms of voiceconversation communication. Note, however, that the scope of variousaspects of the present invention should not be limited to voiceconversation communication. For example, various aspects of the presentinvention readily extend to multimedia conversation communication.

The first mobile communication device 610 may, for example, becommunicating a voice conversation with the second mobile communicationdevice 620 through the first cellular communication network 622 (e.g.,through a first cellular telephone service). The first mobilecommunication device 610 may also, for example, be simultaneouslycommunicating a voice conversation with the third mobile communicationdevice 630. Such communication may, for example, occur over acommunication link through the LAN access point 632, Local Area Network(“LAN”) 634, Internet 636 and Personal Area Network (“PAN”) 638 (e.g.,through at least a first Internet access or VoIP service). Suchcommunication may, for example, comprise communicating voiceconversation information utilizing VoIP.

In a non-limiting exemplary scenario, a user of the second mobilecommunication device 620 may speak, resulting in the communication ofsecond voice conversation information to the first mobile communicationdevice 610 through the first cellular network 622. The first mobilecommunication device 610 may, for example, receive the second voiceconversation information, combine such information with outgoing voiceinformation, if any, from a user of the first mobile communicationdevice 610, place such combined information in a form compatible withVoIP and retransmit such information to the third mobile communicationdevice 630.

As discussed previously with regard to FIGS. 1-5, the first mobilecommunication device 610 may process, combine and retransmit receivedinformation in any of a variety of manners. Also, the first mobilecommunication device 610 may also present the received second voiceconversation information to a user of the first mobile communicationdevice 610. The first mobile communication device 610 may additionallypresent received third voice conversation information received from thethird mobile communication device 630 (e.g., combined with the secondvoice conversation information) to a user of the first mobilecommunication device 610.

Continuing the non-limiting exemplary scenario, the first mobilecommunication device 610 may also be simultaneously communicating withthe fourth mobile communication device 640. Such communication may, forexample, occur over a communication link through the LAN access point632, Local Area Network (“LAN”) 634, Internet 636 and Metropolitan AreaNetwork (“MAN”) 642 (e.g., through at least a second Internet accessservice). Such communication may, for example, comprise communicatingfourth voice conversation information utilizing a proprietary type ofcomputer network voice communication. The first mobile communicationdevice 610 may then, for example, combine the fourth voice conversationinformation with outgoing voice information, if any, from a user of thefirst mobile communication device 610 and second voice conversationinformation, if any, from the second mobile communication device 620,place such combined information in a form compatible with theproprietary type of computer network voice communication and retransmitsuch information to the third mobile communication device 630.

As discussed previously, the first mobile communication device 610 maypresent the received fourth voice conversation information to a user ofthe first mobile communication device 610. For example, the first mobilecommunication device 610 may combine received second voice conversationinformation, third voice conversation information and fourth voiceconversation information and communicate such combined information to auser of the first mobile communication device 610 through a userinterface.

Continuing the non-limiting exemplary scenario, the first mobilecommunication device 610 may also be simultaneously communicating withthe fifth mobile communication device 650 through the second cellularcommunication network 652 (e.g., through a second cellular telephoneservice, which may be the same or different from the first cellulartelephone service). The first mobile communication device 610 may then,for example, combine the fifth voice conversation information withoutgoing voice information, if any, from a user of the first mobilecommunication device 610, other voice conversation information, if any,from other mobile communication devices, place such combined informationin a form compatible with the proprietary type of computer network voicecommunication and retransmit such information to the third mobilecommunication device 630 (and/or the other communication devices).

As discussed previously, the first mobile communication device 610 maypresent the received fifth voice conversation information to a user ofthe first mobile communication device 610. For example, the first mobilecommunication device 610 may combine the received second voiceconversation information, third voice conversation information, fourthvoice conversation information and fifth voice conversation informationand communicate such combined information to a user of the first mobilecommunication device 610 through a user interface. Note the exemplaryscenario was presented in the context of the first mobile communicationdevice 610 combining information and transmitting such combinedinformation to the third mobile communication device 630. The firstmobile communication device 610 may similarly combine information andtransmit combined information to each of the other mobile communicationdevices 620, 640 and 650.

The previous discussion of FIGS. 1-6 presented various exemplary mobilecommunication devices to provide specific illustrations of variousgenerally broader aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, thescope of various aspects of the present invention should not be limitedby characteristics of the exemplary mobile communication devices.

It should be noted that various modules of the previously discussedexemplary mobile communication devices may be implemented in hardware,software, or a combination thereof. Also, various modules may shareportions of hardware and software. For example, a first and secondmodule may share one or more hardware components and/or one or moresoftware routines. Accordingly, the scope of various aspects of thepresent invention should not be limited by characteristics of anyparticular hardware or software implementation of the various modules orby arbitrary hardware and software boundaries between the variousmodules.

Further, the various modules of the exemplary mobile communicationdevices may be implemented in various degrees of integration. Forexample and without limitation, the modules may all be integrated on asingle chip. Also for example, the various modules may be implemented inseparate chips of a single circuit board. Accordingly, the scope ofvarious aspects of the present invention should not be limited bycharacteristics of any particular implementation or level of integrationof the various exemplary modules.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary method 700 for operating amobile communication device, in accordance with various aspects of thepresent invention. The exemplary method 700 may, for example and withoutlimitation, share any or all functional characteristics with theexemplary mobile communication devices illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 anddiscussed previously.

The exemplary method 700 may begin executing at step 705. The exemplarymethod 700 may begin executing for any of a variety of reasons. Forexample and without limitation, the exemplary method 700 may beginexecuting on power-up or reset of a mobile communication deviceimplementing the method 700. Also for example, the exemplary method 700may begin executing in response to a detected communication condition orevent (e.g., user initiation of an N-way communication, incomingcommunication associated with or requesting an N-way communication,etc.).

The exemplary method 700 may, at step 710, comprise receiving outgoinginformation through a user interface. Such outgoing information maycomprise characteristics of any of a variety of types of information(e.g., voice conversation information, multimedia conversationinformation, audio information, video information, etc.).

The exemplary method 700 may, at step 720, comprise receiving (e.g.,from a first communication device) first information communicatedthrough a first communication service (e.g., over a first communicationnetwork). The first information may comprise characteristics of any of avariety of types of information (e.g., voice conversation information,multimedia conversation information, audio information, videoinformation, etc.). Step 720 may comprise receiving the firstinformation from any of a large variety of types of communicationnetworks and/or communication services and utilizing any of a largevariety of communication protocols. Various examples of informationtypes, network types, protocol types and communication services werediscussed previously.

The exemplary method 700 may, at step 730, comprise combining at leastthe received outgoing information and the received first information.Note that though exemplary steps 710 and 720 comprise receiving outgoinginformation and first information, such steps may also comprisereceiving any number of types of information from any number of sourcesof such information.

Step 730 may comprise combining at least the received outgoinginformation and the received first information in any of a variety ofmanners. For example and without limitation, step 730 may comprisecombining at least the received outgoing information and the receivedfirst information utilizing analog and/or digital components of a mobilecommunication device implementing the method 700 (e.g., to combineanalog or digital signals corresponding to the received outgoinginformation and the received first information).

Step 730 may, for example, comprise combining non-encoded signalscorresponding to the received outgoing information and received firstinformation. In such scenarios, step 730 may also comprise performingvarious encoding and/or decoding operations. Non-limiting examples ofsuch combining and/or other operations were provided in the previousdiscussion (e.g., of FIGS. 1 and 2). Non-limiting examples of suchcombining will also be presented in the discussion of FIG. 8.

Step 730 may also, for example, comprise combining encoded signalscorresponding to the received outgoing information and received firstinformation. In such scenarios, step 730 may also comprise performingvarious encoding and/or transcoding operations. Non-limiting examples ofsuch combining and/or other operations were provided in the previousdiscussion (e.g., of FIGS. 1 and 3). Non-limiting examples of suchcombining will also be presented in the discussion of FIG. 9.

Step 730 may further, for example, comprise combining packetizedinformation. Non-limiting examples of such combining, packetizing,depacketizing and packet multiplexing were provided in the previousdiscussion (e.g., of FIGS. 1 and 4). Non-limiting examples of suchcombining will also be presented in the discussion of FIG. 10.

In combining information from various sources, step 730 may comprisecombining information from various sources and presenting suchinformation in a consistently encoded manner. Alternatively for example,step 730 may comprise combining information utilizing a plurality oftypes of encoding. In such a scenario, a receiver of such combinedinformation might decode such combined information in accordance with aplurality of corresponding types of decoding.

The exemplary method 700 may, at step 740, comprise transmitting thecombined information to a second communication device (e.g., through asecond communication network and associated second communicationservice). Step 740 may comprise transmitting the combined information inany of a variety of manners and utilizing any of a variety ofcommunication protocols.

The exemplary method 700 may, at step 795, comprise performing continuedprocessing. Such continued processing, at step 795or any continuedprocessing step discussed herein, may comprise characteristics of any ofa variety of types of continued processing. For example and withoutlimitation, step 795may comprise maintaining an N-way communicationsession involving a changing array of other communication devices. Step795may also, for example, comprise providing user interface features toenhance a user's ability to conveniently initiate, participate in ormanage an N-way communication session. Step 795 may comprise presentingcombined received information to a user of the mobile communicationdevice, as discussed previously.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another exemplary method 800 foroperating a mobile communication device, in accordance with variousaspects of the present invention. The exemplary method 800 may, forexample, share any or all characteristics with the exemplary method 700illustrated in FIG. 7 and discussed previously. Also for example, theexemplary method 800 may share any or all functional characteristicswith the exemplary mobile communication devices illustrated in FIGS. 1-6and discussed previously (e.g., the exemplary mobile communicationdevices 100 and 200 of FIGS. 1-2).

The exemplary method 800 may, at step 810, comprise receiving outgoinginformation from a user interface. Such outgoing information maycomprise characteristics of any of a variety of types of information(e.g., voice conversation information, multimedia conversationinformation, audio information, video information, etc.).

Such outgoing information may, for example, comprise characteristics ofnon-encoded or decoded information. In one exemplary scenario, step 810may comprise receiving non-encoded outgoing information from a userinterface of the mobile communication device. In another exemplaryscenario, step 810 may comprise receiving encoded outgoing informationfrom a user interface of the mobile communication device and thendecoding such information. In yet another exemplary scenario, step 810may comprise receiving encoded outgoing information from a userinterface, where such information is decoded at a subsequent step.

The exemplary method 800 may, at step 820, comprise receiving (e.g.,from a first communication device) first information communicatedthrough a first communication service (e.g., over a first communicationnetwork). The first information may comprise characteristics of any of avariety of types of information (e.g., voice conversation information,multimedia conversation information, audio information, videoinformation, etc.).

Such first information may, for example, comprise characteristics ofnon-encoded or decoded information. In one exemplary scenario, step 820may comprise receiving non-encoded first information from a first mobilecommunication device. In another exemplary scenario, step 820 maycomprise receiving encoded first information from a first mobilecommunication device and then decoding such information. In yet anotherexemplary scenario, step 820 may comprise receiving encoded firstinformation from a first mobile communication device, where suchinformation is decoded at a subsequent step.

Step 820 may comprise receiving the first information from any of alarge variety of types of communication networks and/or communicationservices and utilizing any of a large variety of communicationprotocols. Various examples of information types, network types,protocol types and communication services were discussed previously.

As mentioned previously, steps 810 and 820 may, in various scenarios,comprise receiving encoded information (e.g., encoded outgoinginformation from a user interface and/or encoded first information froma first mobile communication device). In such scenarios, the exemplarymethod 800 may, at step 825, comprise decoding the received encodedinformation.

The exemplary method 800 may, at step 830, comprise combining at leastthe received outgoing information and the received first information.For example and without limitation, step 830 may comprise combining asignal associated with the non-encoded (or decoded) received firstinformation and a signal associated with the non-encoded (or decoded)received outgoing information.

Step 830 may comprise combining the received information in any of avariety of manners. For example and without limitation, step 830 maycomprise combining a first analog signal corresponding to receivedoutgoing information and a second analog signal corresponding toreceived first information. Also for example, step 830 may comprisecombining a first digital signal corresponding to the received outgoinginformation and a second digital signal corresponding to the receivedfirst information. Note that though the illustrative step 830 comprisescombining information from two sources, various aspects of the presentinvention readily extend to receiving and/or combining information frommore than two (i.e., N>=2) sources.

The exemplary method 800 may, at step 835, comprise encoding theinformation combined at step 830. For example, in an exemplary scenario,where step 830 comprises generating a single signal representative ofthe combined non-encoded received outgoing information and non-encodedreceived first information, step 835 may comprise encoding suchinformation for subsequent transmission. Step 835 may compriseperforming such encoding in any of a variety of manners depending on thetypes of information combined, various communication constraints, theability of a receiver of such encoded information to decode suchinformation, etc.

The exemplary method 800 may, at step 840, comprise transmitting thecombined information to a second communication device (e.g., through asecond communication network and associated second communicationservice). Step 840 may comprise transmitting the combined information inany of a variety of manners and utilizing any of a variety ofcommunication protocols.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an additional exemplary method 900 foroperating a mobile communication device, in accordance with variousaspects of the present invention. The exemplary method 900 may, forexample, share any or all characteristics with the exemplary methods 700and 800 illustrated in FIGS. 7-8 and discussed previously. Also forexample, the exemplary method 900 may share any or all functionalcharacteristics with the exemplary mobile communication devicesillustrated in FIGS. 1-6 and discussed previously (e.g., the exemplarymobile communication devices 100 and 300 of FIGS. 1 and 3).

The exemplary method 900 may, at step 910, comprise receiving outgoinginformation from a user interface. Such outgoing information maycomprise characteristics of any of a variety of types of information(e.g., voice conversation information, multimedia conversationinformation, audio information, video information, etc.).

Such outgoing information may, for example, comprise characteristics ofencoded or non-encoded (or decoded) information. In one exemplaryscenario, step 910 may comprise receiving non-encoded outgoinginformation from a user interface of the mobile communication device.Such information may later be encoded (e.g., prior to combining). Inanother exemplary scenario, step 910 may comprise receiving encodedoutgoing information from a user interface of the mobile communicationdevice. In yet another exemplary scenario, step 910 may comprisereceiving encoded outgoing information from a user interface, where suchinformation is decoded at a subsequent step.

The exemplary method 900 may, at step 920, comprise receiving (e.g.,from a first communication device) first information communicatedthrough a first communication service (e.g., over a first communicationnetwork). The first information may comprise characteristics of any of avariety of types of information (e.g., voice conversation information,multimedia conversation information, audio information, videoinformation, etc.).

Such first information may, for example, comprise characteristics ofencoded or non-encoded (or decoded) information. In one exemplaryscenario, step 920 may comprise receiving encoded first information froma first mobile communication device. In another exemplary scenario, step920 may comprise receiving non-encoded first information from a firstmobile communication device and then encoding such information. In yetanother exemplary scenario, step 920 may comprise receiving encodedfirst information from a first mobile communication device, where suchinformation is transcoded at a subsequent step.

Step 920 may comprise receiving the first information from any of alarge variety of types of communication networks and/or communicationservices and utilizing any of a large variety of communicationprotocols. Various examples of information types, network types,protocol types and communication services were discussed previously.

As mentioned previously, steps 910 and 920 may, in various scenarios,comprise receiving non-encoded information (e.g., non-encoded outgoinginformation from a user interface and/or non-encoded first informationfrom a first mobile communication device). In such scenarios, theexemplary method 900 may, at step 925, comprise encoding the receivednon-encoded information.

The exemplary method 900 may, at step 930, comprise transcodinginformation between various types of encoding. As a non-limitingexample, step 920 may comprise receiving first information that isencoded with a first type of encoding. Step 930 may then, for example,comprise transcoding the first information to another particular type ofencoding. Such transcoding may be performed in any of a variety ofmanners, depending on the original and final types of encoding. As anon-limiting example, such transcoding may comprise decoding an inputsignal that was encoded in accordance with a first encoding scheme andthen encoding the decoded signal in accordance with a second encodingscheme. Also for example, such transcoding may comprise directlyconverting between such first and second encoding schemes.

In a non-limiting exemplary scenario (e.g., where a variety of types oftranscoding may be performed), step 930 may comprise selecting anoriginal and final type of encoding. Step 930 may then, for example,comprise performing the selected type of transcoding. Such performingmay, for example, comprise controlling transcoding hardware and/orsoftware adapted to perform such transcoding.

Note that such transcoding may be applied to information received fromone or more sources. For example, step 930 may comprise transcodinginformation received from any number of communication devices.

The exemplary method 900 may, at step 935, comprise combining at leastthe received outgoing information (e.g., received at step 910) and thereceived first information (e.g., received at step 920). Step 935 may,for example, comprise combining encoded information corresponding to thereceived outgoing information and encoded information corresponding tothe received first information. Such information may, for example, havebeen encoded at step 925 and/or transcoded at step 930. Such informationmay, for example, have been encoded in accordance with a common encodingscheme. In various scenarios, such information may alternatively havebeen encoded in accordance with different encoding schemes.

The exemplary method 900 may, at step 940, comprise transmitting thecombined information to a second communication device (e.g., through asecond communication network and associated second communicationservice). Step 940 may comprise transmitting the combined information inany of a variety of manners and utilizing any of a variety ofcommunication protocols.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating yet another exemplary method 1000 foroperating a mobile communication device, in accordance with variousaspects of the present invention. The exemplary method 1000 may, forexample, share any or all characteristics with the exemplary methods700-900 illustrated in FIGS. 7-9 and discussed previously. Also forexample, the exemplary method 1000 may share any or all functionalcharacteristics with the exemplary mobile communication devicesillustrated in FIGS. 1-6 and discussed previously (e.g., the exemplarymobile communication devices 100 and 400 of FIGS. 1 and 4).

The exemplary method 1000 may, at step 1010, comprise receiving outgoinginformation from a user interface. Such outgoing information maycomprise characteristics of any of a variety of types of information(e.g., voice conversation information, multimedia conversationinformation, audio information, video information, etc.).

Such outgoing information may, for example, comprise characteristics ofpacketized information (e.g., packetized encoded or non-encodedinformation). Such packetized information may, for example, be in theform of a stream of data packets. In one exemplary scenario, step 1010may comprise receiving packetized non-encoded outgoing information froma user interface of the mobile communication device. Such informationmay later be encoded and/or re-packetized (e.g., prior to combining). Inanother exemplary scenario, step 1010 may comprise receiving packetizedencoded outgoing information from a user interface of the mobilecommunication device. In yet another exemplary scenario, step 1010 maycomprise receiving encoded or non-encoded outgoing information from auser interface, where such information is packetized at a subsequentstep.

The exemplary method 1000 may, at step 1020, comprise receiving (e.g.,from a first communication device) first information communicatedthrough a first communication service (e.g., over a first communicationnetwork). The first information may comprise characteristics of any of avariety of types of information (e.g., voice conversation information,multimedia conversation information, audio information, videoinformation, etc.).

Such first information may, for example, comprise characteristics ofpacketized encoded or non-encoded (or decoded) information. Suchpacketized information may, for example, be in the form of a stream ofdata packets. In one exemplary scenario, step 1020 may comprisereceiving packetized encoded first information from a first mobilecommunication device. In another exemplary scenario, step 1020 maycomprise receiving packetized non-encoded first information from a firstmobile communication device and then encoding and/or re-packetizing suchinformation. In yet another exemplary scenario, step 1020 may comprisereceiving packetized first information from a first mobile communicationdevice, where such information is re-packetized (and/or encoded ortranscoded) at a subsequent step.

Step 1020 may comprise receiving the first information from any of alarge variety of types of communication networks and/or communicationservices and utilizing any of a large variety of communicationprotocols. Various examples of information types, network types,protocol types and communication services were discussed previously.

As mentioned previously, steps 1010 and 1020 may, in various scenarios,comprise receiving encoded information (e.g., encoded outgoinginformation from a user interface and/or encoded first information froma first mobile communication device). In such scenarios, the receivedinformation may be encoded in accordance with a common encoding schemeor may be encoded in accordance with different respective encodingschemes. In a scenario involving different encoding schemes, suchinformation may be left encoded as-is or may, for example, be transcodedto place such information in a consistent type of coding (e.g., prior tocombining and transmitting).

The exemplary method 1000 may, at step 1030, comprise combining at leastthe received outgoing information and the received first information.Step 1030 may comprise combining the received information (e.g., asreceived at steps 1010 and 1020) in any of a variety of manners. Forexample and without limitation, step 1030 may comprise multiplexing afirst data packet stream associated with the received outgoinginformation and a second data packet stream associated with the receivedfirst information. Such multiplexing may, for example, comprise placingpackets corresponding to a plurality of packet streams into a singlepacket stream. In various exemplary scenarios, step 1030 may alsocomprise re-packetizing particular packets (e.g., to place packets intoa consistent format, for example, in accordance with a particularcommunication protocol).

The exemplary method 1000 may, at step 1040, comprise transmitting thecombined information to a second communication device (e.g., through asecond communication network and associated second communicationservice). Step 1040 may comprise transmitting the combined informationin any of a variety of manners and utilizing any of a variety ofcommunication protocols.

The previous discussion of the exemplary methods 700-1000 illustrated inFIGS. 7-10 presented various exemplary methods and method steps toprovide specific illustrations of various generally broader aspects ofthe present invention. Accordingly, the scope of various aspects of thepresent invention should not be limited by characteristics of theexemplary methods or method steps.

Various aspects of the present invention have also been described abovewith the aid of method steps illustrating the performance of specifiedfunctions and relationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence ofthese method steps have been arbitrarily defined herein for convenienceof description. Alternate boundaries and sequences can be defined solong as the specified functions and relationships are appropriatelyperformed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences are thus withinthe scope and spirit of the claimed invention.

Various aspects of the present invention have additionally beendescribed above with the aid of functional building blocks illustratingthe performance of certain significant functions. The boundaries ofthese functional building blocks and relationships between variousfunctional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined for convenienceof description. Alternate boundaries or relationships could be definedas long as the certain significant functions are appropriately performedSuch alternate boundaries or relationships are thus within the scope andspirit of the claimed invention. Additionally, the functional buildingblocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules and components herein,can be implemented as illustrated or by discrete components, applicationspecific integrated circuits, processors executing appropriate softwareand the like or any combination thereof.

In summary, various aspects of the present invention provide a mobilecommunication device providing N-way communication through a pluralityof communication services. While the invention has been described withreference to certain aspects and embodiments, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes may be made andequivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of theinvention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation or material to the teachings of the inventionwithout departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that theinvention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, butthat the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scopeof the appended claims.

1. A mobile communication device comprising: at least one user interfacemodule adapted to interface between the mobile communication device anda user of the mobile communication device; at least one communicationinterface module adapted to: perform a first communication with a firstcommunication device through a first communication service; and performa second communication with a second communication device through asecond communication service simultaneously with the firstcommunication; and at least one module adapted to: receive outgoinginformation through the at least one user interface module; receive,through the at least one communication interface module, firstinformation transmitted from the first communication device through thefirst communication service; combine at least the received outgoinginformation and the received first information; and transmit, throughthe at least one communication interface module, at least the combinedinformation to the second communication device through the secondcommunication service.
 2. The mobile communication device of claim 1,wherein: the received outgoing information and the received firstinformation each comprise audio information; and the at least one moduleis adapted to combine at least the received outgoing information and thereceived first information by, at least in part, combining respectivenon-encoded audio signals corresponding to audio information of thereceived outgoing information and audio information of the receivedfirst information.
 3. The mobile communication device of claim 1,wherein the at least one module is adapted to decode the received firstinformation; and combine at least the received outgoing information andthe received first information by, at least in part, combining a signalassociated with the decoded received first information and a signalassociated with the received outgoing information.
 4. The mobilecommunication device of claim 1, wherein: the at least one modulecomprises an analog signal combiner; and the at least one module isadapted to combine at least the received outgoing information and thereceived first information by, at least in part, utilizing the analogsignal combiner to combine a first analog signal corresponding to thereceived outgoing information and a second analog signal correspondingto the received first information.
 5. The mobile communication device ofclaim 1, wherein: the at least one module comprises a digital signalcombiner; and the at least one module is adapted to combine at least thereceived outgoing information and the received first information by, atleast in part, utilizing the digital signal combiner to combine a firstdigital signal corresponding to the received outgoing information and asecond digital signal corresponding to the received first information.6. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein: the receivedoutgoing information and the received first information each compriseaudio information; and the at least one module is adapted to combine atleast the received outgoing information and the received firstinformation by, at least in part, combining respective encoded audiosignals corresponding to audio information of the received outgoinginformation and audio information of the received first information. 7.The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein: the at least onemodule comprises a transcoder adapted to transcode the first receivedinformation from a first type of encoding to a particular type ofencoding; and the at least one module is adapted to combine at least thereceived outgoing information and the received first information by, atleast in part, combining the received outgoing information with thefirst received information encoded with the particular type of encoding.8. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein: the at least onemodule comprises an encoder adapted to encode the received outgoinginformation with a particular type of encoding; the at least one modulecomprises a transcoder adapted to transcode the first receivedinformation from a first type of encoding to the particular type ofencoding; and the at least one module is adapted to combine at least thereceived outgoing information and the received first information by, atleast in part, combining the received outgoing information encoded withthe particular type of encoding with the first received informationencoded with the particular type of encoding.
 9. The mobilecommunication device of claim 8, wherein: the transcoder is adapted totranscode between a first plurality of selectable types of encoding anda second plurality of selectable types of encoding; and the at least onemodule is further adapted to: select the first type of encoding from thefirst plurality of selectable types of encoding and select theparticular type of encoding from the second plurality of selectabletypes of encoding; and control the transcoder to transcode the receivedfirst information from the first type of encoding to the particular typeof encoding.
 10. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein:the received outgoing information and the received first informationeach comprise audio information; and the at least one module is adaptedto combine at least the received outgoing information and the receivedfirst information by, at least in part, combining a packet streamassociated with the received outgoing information and a packet streamassociated with the received first information.
 11. The mobilecommunication device of claim 1, wherein: the at least one modulecomprises a data packet multiplexer; and the at least one module isadapted to combine at least the received outgoing information and thereceived first information by multiplexing a first data packet streamassociated with the received first information and a second data packetstream associated with the received outgoing information.
 12. The mobilecommunication device of claim 11, wherein audio information in the firstdata packet stream is encoded with a first type of encoding, and audioinformation in the second data packet stream is encoded with a secondtype of encoding different from the first type of encoding.
 13. Themobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the first communicationservice and the second communication service are associated withdifferent respective cellular telephone communication services.
 14. Themobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the first communicationservice is associated with a cellular telephone communication service,and the second communication service is associated with a computernetwork communication service.
 15. The mobile communication device ofclaim 1, wherein the first communication service is associated withcommunicating voice conversation information over a cellular telephonenetwork, and the second communication service is associated withcommunicating VoIP over a computer network.
 16. In a mobilecommunication device (“MCD”), a method for providing N-way communicationthrough a plurality of communication services, the method comprising:establishing a first communication link between the MCD and a firstcommunication service; establishing a second communication link betweenthe MCD and a second communication service while the first communicationlink is established; receiving outgoing information through a userinterface; receiving, from a first communication device, firstinformation communicated through the first communication service;combining at least the received outgoing information and the receivedfirst information; and transmitting the combined information to a secondcommunication device through the second communication service.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, wherein: the received outgoing information and thereceived first information each comprise audio information; andcombining at least the received outgoing information and the receivedfirst information comprises combining respective non-encoded audiosignals corresponding to audio information of the received outgoinginformation and audio information of the received first information. 18.The method of claim 16, further comprising decoding the received firstinformation, and wherein combining at least the received outgoinginformation and the received first information comprises combining asignal associated with the decoded received first information and asignal associated with the received outgoing information.
 19. The methodof claim 16, wherein combining at least the received outgoinginformation and the received first information comprises combining afirst analog signal corresponding to the received outgoing informationand a second analog signal corresponding to the received firstinformation.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein combining at least thereceived outgoing information and the received first informationcomprises combining a first digital signal corresponding to the receivedoutgoing information and a second digital signal corresponding to thereceived first information.
 21. The method of claim 16, whereincombining at least the received outgoing information and the receivedfirst information comprises combining respective encoded audio signalscorresponding to audio information of the received outgoing informationand audio information of the received first information.
 22. The methodof claim 16, further comprising: encoding a first audio signalcorresponding to audio information of the received outgoing information;and encoding a second audio signal corresponding to audio information ofthe received first information.
 23. The method of claim 16, furthercomprising transcoding the first received information from a first typeof encoding to a particular type of encoding, and wherein combining atleast the received outgoing information and the received firstinformation comprises combining the received outgoing information withthe first received information encoded with the particular type ofencoding.
 24. The method of claim 16, further comprising: encoding thereceived outgoing information with a particular type of encoding; andtranscoding the first received information from a first type of encodingto the particular type of encoding; and wherein combining at least thereceived outgoing information and the received first informationcomprises combining the received outgoing information encoded with theparticular type of encoding with the received first information encodedwith the particular type of encoding.
 25. The method of claim 24,further comprising: selecting the first type of encoding from aplurality of selectable types of encoding; selecting the particular typeof encoding from a plurality of selectable types of encoding; andcontrolling transcoding of the received first information from the firsttype of encoding to the particular type of encoding.
 26. The method ofclaim 16, wherein: the received outgoing information and the receivedfirst information each comprise audio information; and combining atleast the received outgoing information and the received firstinformation comprises combining a packet stream associated with thereceived outgoing information and a packet stream associated with thereceived first information.
 27. The method of claim 16, whereincombining at least the received outgoing information and the receivedfirst information comprises multiplexing a first data packet streamassociated with the received first information and a second data packetstream associated with the received outgoing information.
 28. The methodof claim 27, wherein audio information in the first data packet streamis encoded with a first type of encoding, and audio information in thesecond data packet stream is encoded with a second type of encodingdifferent from the first type of encoding.
 29. The method of claim 16,wherein the first communication service and the second communicationservice are associated with different respective cellular telephonecommunication services.
 30. The method of claim 16, wherein the firstcommunication service is associated with a cellular telephonecommunication service, and the second communication service isassociated with a computer network communication service.
 31. The methodof claim 16, wherein the first communication service is associated withcommunicating voice conversation information over a cellular telephonenetwork, and the second communication service is associated withcommunicating VoIP over a computer network.